The Response Action Maintenance Plan (RAMP) is the result of a Consent Decree between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the State of Idaho (State), the Coeur d’Alene Tribe (Tribe) and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). The Consent Decree addressed mine related contamination along the Wallace-Mullan Branch of the UPRR right of way (ROW) and was entered by the U.S. District Court of Idaho on August 25, 2000 in United States of America and State of Idaho v. Union Pacific Railroad Company and Coeur d’Alene Tribe v. Union Pacific Railroad Company (Case number 99-0606-N-EJL).
Mission
Pursuant to the Consent Decree, UPRR conducted certain response activities on the ROW, including but not limited to certain contaminate removals, construction of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes (Trail) and maintenance and repair activities to preserve the condition of the Trail. The Consent Decree also requires UPRR to transfer by quitclaim deed(s) all of its right, title and interest in the ROW to the State and Tribe.
The RAMP sets out the oversight and management activities of the State, Tribe and EPA (collectively the Governments) to ensure that the response actions conducted on the Trail/ROW are maintained and preserved to protect human health and the environment consistent with the Consent Decree. The RAMP also includes institutional controls to monitor future construction activities on the Trail/ROW through training, permitting and licensing requirements. As between the Governments, the RAMP provides continuity, coordination and cost-effective management of activities on the Trail.
The Tribe will own and is the primary manager of the Trail/ROW from Harrison to Plummer, Idaho (14.4 miles) and the State will own and is the primary manager of the Trail/ROW from Mullan to Harrison, Idaho (57.1 miles). The Trail/ROW passing through Heyburn Park will be jointly-owned and co-managed by the Tribe and State. For that portion of the Trail within the Reservation outside of Heyburn Park the Tribe’s Hazardous Waste Management Program will be responsible for protecting human health and the environment and the Recreation Management Program will be responsible for general management.
Although ownership and primary management for certain portions of the ROW have been allocated to the State and Tribe, the Trail/ROW will be managed and operated as a whole, consistent with a “single-trail” principle. A Trail Commission, including three representatives each from the State and Tribe will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the development and operation of the entire Trail/ROW are coordinated across the State and Tribe’s separate and joint management areas, consistent with the “single-trail” principle.
To review the Remedial Action Maintenance Plan (RAMP) document, click on the link below: